Dominate the Colorado Springs Real Estate Market

Strategic Market Intelligence Report: Colorado Springs Real Estate 2026

Date: December 7, 2025

Subject: Comprehensive Market Update, Strategic Forecast for 2026, and Tactical Advisory for Real Estate Professionals

Executive Summary: The Great Recalibration

As the calendar turns toward 2026, the Colorado Springs real estate market stands at a definitive crossroads, marked by the most significant structural recalibration the Pikes Peak region has witnessed in over fifteen years. The era of the hyper-velocity seller's market—fueled by pandemic-induced scarcity and historically low interest rates—has unequivocally concluded. In its place, a new, more complex market reality has emerged: one defined by inventory accumulation, pricing stagnation, and a fundamental shift in the balance of power from the seller to the buyer.

For the real estate professional operating within El Paso and Teller Counties, the landscape of December 2025 presents a paradox of stability and fragility. On the surface, median prices appear resilient, holding steady near the half-million-dollar mark. However, beneath this veneer of stability lies a turbulent undercurrent of economic contradictions. The local economy is simultaneously buoyed by a burgeoning semiconductor manufacturing sector and significant federal investment, yet it is threatened by the geopolitical volatility surrounding the U.S. Space Command headquarters and an acute, escalating homeowners' insurance crisis that threatens to redefine affordability for thousands of households.

The data is unambiguous: inventory levels have surged to heights not seen since 2010, days on market have extended, and transaction volumes have contracted. The "impulse buy" buyer has vanished, replaced by a discerning, rate-sensitive, and insurance-aware consumer who wields time as a weapon. This environment demands a radical departure from the passive "order-taking" strategies that sufficed in recent years. Success in 2026 will require agents to evolve into strategic consultants capable of navigating complex insurance regulations, managing realistic valuation expectations, and deploying sophisticated, video-first marketing strategies to capture attention in a saturated marketplace.

This report serves as an exhaustive strategic manual for the Colorado Springs real estate professional. It provides a granular analysis of the current market anatomy as of December 2025, forecasts the macroeconomic and local drivers that will shape 2026, offers a tactical survival guide for navigating the new "insurance-constrained" deal flow, and establishes the critical imperative for adopting automated video solutions—specifically VidFlipper—as the primary mechanism for competitive differentiation.

Section 1: Market Snapshot – The Anatomy of December 2025

To understand the trajectory of 2026, one must first dissect the prevailing conditions of late 2025. The metrics from November and December paint a picture of a market in suspended animation—a "soft buyer's market" where the supply of homes has finally outpaced the organic demand of a weary buyer pool.

1.1 The "Great Accumulation": Inventory Dynamics

The defining characteristic of the Colorado Springs market in late 2025 is the sheer volume of available inventory. For nearly a decade, the narrative of local real estate was one of scarcity; agents and buyers alike were conditioned to operate in an environment of shortage. That era has ended.

As of the close of November 2025, active listings for single-family homes in the region stood at 3,555 units. This figure represents a startling 15% year-over-year increase and marks the highest level of November inventory recorded since 2010. The significance of this accumulation cannot be overstated. We are no longer operating in a market of scarcity; we have entered a market of abundance.

This surge in active inventory is not the result of a sudden flood of new sellers entering the market. In fact, new listings in November were nearly identical to the previous year, with approximately 885 new units hitting the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Instead, the rise in total active listings is driven by a dramatic deceleration in absorption. Homes are simply not leaving the market at the rate they are entering it. The absorption rate has slowed, creating a "backlog" of inventory that compounds month over month.

The "Stale Listing" Phenomenon

The consequence of this accumulation is the prevalence of "stale" listings. In previous years, a home on the market for 30 days was an anomaly; today, it is the norm. The accumulation of inventory means that buyers are presented with a vast array of choices, many of which have been lingering for weeks or months. This abundance fosters a psychological shift in the buyer pool: the "fear of missing out" (FOMO) has been replaced by the "fear of overpaying" (FOOP). Buyers feel empowered to wait, to compare, and to demand concessions, knowing that the likelihood of a competing offer is statistically low.

Metric	November 2024	November 2025	YoY Change	Implication for Agents
Active Listings	~3,100	3,555	+15%	Shift of power to buyers; increased competition for listing visibility.
New Listings	~885	885	0%	Inventory growth is driven by slow sales, not new supply.
Closed Sales	~890	837	-6%	A contracting transaction pool means fewer commissions to go around.
Months of Supply	~3.4	3.9 - 4.3	+15%	Transition from "Balanced" to "Soft Buyer's Market."

1.2 Price Stability vs. Stagnation: The "Sticky" Valuation

Despite the significant increase in inventory, home prices in Colorado Springs have not collapsed. This resilience is often cited as evidence of market health, but a deeper analysis suggests a more complex phenomenon known as "sticky pricing."

The median home price in November 2025 was $491,990, representing a marginal 1.4% increase since last year. The average price remained virtually flat at $551,605. While positive on paper, these figures mask the reality of inflation-adjusted performance. With the broader economy experiencing persistent inflation throughout 2024 and 2025, a nominal gain of 1.4% translates to a decline in real value. Homeowners are effectively losing purchasing power relative to the general economy.

The Price-Gap Divergence

A critical metric for agents to monitor is the divergence between list prices and sold prices. Data from late 2025 indicates that buyers are gaining leverage, with closed transactions occurring at roughly 5.7% below the original list price on average across broader Colorado markets. This gap signals that while sellers are anchoring their expectations to the peak valuations of 2022-2023, the market clearing price—the price at which a buyer is actually willing to transact—is significantly lower.

This dynamic creates a "standoff." Sellers, burdened by the memory of higher prices, are resistant to aggressive price cuts. Buyers, constrained by interest rates and affordability, are unable or unwilling to bridge the gap. The result is a market where transactions only occur when a seller "blinks" and adjusts to the new reality.

Sub-Market Vulnerabilities

The stability of the median price also hides localized weaknesses. Premium sub-markets, often the first to feel the impact of economic shifts, are showing signs of softening.

Northgate: In this desirable northern sub-market, home values have trended down by 0.9% over the past year. This decline in a premium zone suggests that the upper-middle segment of the market is feeling the pressure of reduced purchasing power and perhaps the uncertainty surrounding military command relocations.

Price Reductions: The prevalence of price cuts is another leading indicator of softness. Approximately 40% of mid-market listings saw price reductions in Q3 2025, with an average cut of 2.5%. This widespread discounting confirms that initial list prices are consistently overshooting buyer demand.

1.3 Days on Market: The New Timeline

The velocity of the market has slowed perceptibly. The average time to sell is now 57 days, a 5% increase from the previous year. This metric is critical for setting seller expectations. In the frenzied markets of the past, a home lingering for 60 days was stigmatized as "problematic." In December 2025, a 60-day timeline is simply the statistical average.

This extension of the sales cycle has profound implications for sellers. It means carrying costs—mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, and insurance—must be budgeted for a longer duration. For agents, it necessitates a shift in listing strategy: marketing plans must be built for endurance, not just a weekend blitz. The "sprint" to the closing table has become a "marathon."

1.4 The Rental Market Rebound

An often-overlooked indicator for residential sales health is the performance of the rental market. The relationship is cyclical: high rents drive tenants to buy, while low rents encourage them to lease. Current data suggests a stabilization and pending rebound in the Colorado Springs multifamily sector.

After a period of supply expansion that depressed rent growth, the market is projected to return to positive growth by mid-2025.

East Colorado Springs: Vacancy is tightening, with stabilized occupancy rates projected to rise to 90.2% by Q4 2025. Rent growth in this sub-market is forecast at 3.9%, pushing rents to approximately $1,358.

North Colorado Springs: This area maintains a robust occupancy rate of 93%, with rents hovering around $1,580 and projected growth of 2.6%.

For the sales agent, this rebound is a double-edged sword. On one hand, rising rents improve the relative affordability calculation for homeownership, potentially nudging some tenants off the fence. On the other hand, the increasing cost of housing across both sectors (sales and rentals) underscores the broader affordability crisis challenging the region. The "cost of living" crunch is intensifying, leaving less disposable income for saving toward down payments.

Section 2: The 2026 Forecast – Economic Drivers & Structural Shifts

As we look toward 2026, the Colorado Springs real estate market will be defined by a complex interplay of opposing forces. On one side, positive macroeconomic shifts in interest rates and a booming local tech sector provide tailwinds. On the other, localized geopolitical shocks involving military command structures and a deepening insurance crisis present formidable headwinds.

2.1 The "Magic Bullet": Interest Rate Moderation

The most significant potential catalyst for market activity in 2026 is the anticipated moderation of mortgage interest rates. After hovering in the mid-6% range throughout much of late 2025 , the consensus among major financial forecasts is that rates will begin a gradual descent.

Projections indicate that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate could decline to a range of 5.8% to 6.4% by 2026. While this is not a return to the 3% rates of the pandemic era, it represents a psychologically and mathematically significant shift.

The "Lock-In" Thaw

Millions of homeowners nationwide, and thousands in the Pikes Peak region, are currently "locked in" to sub-3% mortgages. This "rate lock" has been the primary driver of low inventory in previous years, as homeowners refused to trade a 3% rate for a 7% one. However, as rates approach the high 5% range, the "rate penalty" of moving diminishes.

The Second Wave of Inventory: We anticipate that a drop to 5.8% will unlock a "second wave" of inventory—move-up buyers who have been postponing family-driven moves (births, marriages, empty nesting) for three years. This release of pent-up supply will likely prevent prices from skyrocketing, even as demand increases.

Affordability Threshold: For the median home price of $492,000, a reduction in interest rates from 6.8% to 5.8% translates to a monthly savings of approximately $300. This improvement in affordability is sufficient to bring marginal first-time buyers back into the market, potentially helping to absorb the excess inventory accumulating in the entry-level price bands ($400k-$500k).

2.2 The Space Command Shockwave: Managing the Narrative

The elephant in the room for the Colorado Springs economy in late 2025 is the status of the U.S. Space Command headquarters. The political volatility surrounding this decision has been immense, creating a climate of uncertainty that agents must actively manage.

The Situation:

Following the 2024 election cycle and subsequent political shifts, the saga of the Space Command headquarters took another dramatic turn. In September 2025, it was announced that the decision to keep the headquarters in Colorado Springs—cemented by the Biden administration in 2023—was being reversed by the incoming administration in favor of a move to Huntsville, Alabama.10

The Economic & Real Estate Impact:

While the headline is jarring, a nuanced analysis reveals a more contained impact than the panic might suggest.

Direct Economic Hit: The relocation involves the movement of approximately 1,400 high-paying jobs and an estimated $1 billion in annual economic impact. These roles are primarily held by high-ranking officers, government civilians, and defense contractors—demographics that typically purchase in the upper-tier price points ($700k+). Consequently, we expect softness in luxury sub-markets like Northgate, Flying Horse, and Briargate.

The Resilience Factor: It is critical to distinguish between the administrative headquarters (Space Command) and the operational infrastructure (Space Force). Colorado Springs remains the physical home of Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The satellites are flown from here; the training happens here. The operational center of gravity for military space remains firmly in the Pikes Peak region.

Ongoing Expansion: Paradoxically, while the HQ may leave, the Space Force itself continues to expand. Snippets indicate that Space Force expansion is creating sustained housing demand, with 250+ new military personnel expected to arrive independent of the HQ decision.

Agent Strategy: Agents must actively counter the "doom and gloom" narrative. The military housing market will remain robust due to the sheer density of remaining installations. The narrative should shift from "Losing Space Command" to "Retaining Space Force Operations."

2.3 The "Silicon Mountain" Pivot: The CHIPS Act & Entegris

While the military sector faces turbulence, the manufacturing and technology sectors in Colorado Springs are entering a boom phase, funded by federal investment and strategic corporate expansion. This represents a critical diversification of the local economy.

Entegris Expansion: The semiconductor supply chain giant Entegris has opened a major Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Colorado Springs. This 130,000-square-foot facility, supported by up to $75 million in CHIPS Act funding , is set to create 600 new high-quality jobs.

"Project Rey": Further reinforcing this trend, the state has approved millions in incentives for an unnamed semiconductor manufacturer ("Project Rey") to expand its operations in El Paso County.

The "CHIPS Zone": The designation of specific areas as "CHIPS Zones" provides tax credits for advanced manufacturing, further incentivizing ancillary tech companies to locate in the region.

The Demographic Shift:

This economic pivot will drive a rotation in buyer profiles. In 2026, agents may see fewer relocating Colonels and Generals, but significantly more relocating Chemical Engineers, Supply Chain Managers, and Tech Specialists. These buyers are often younger, less transient, and prioritize different amenities—such as proximity to the Garden of the Gods tech corridor or the southern manufacturing districts—than their military counterparts.

2.4 Migration Trends: The Slowdown

A critical headwind for 2026 is the slowing of net migration into the region. For years, Colorado Springs benefitted from an overflow of residents fleeing the higher costs of Denver. That pipeline is narrowing.

Denver-to-Springs Slowdown: Recent data suggests a nearly 29% decrease in net migration to Colorado Springs from the Denver metro area. This is likely driven by the narrowing price gap between the two cities and the broader stabilization of the Denver market.

The Texas Connection: Despite the intrastate slowdown, the pipeline from Texas remains robust. Buyers from Dallas, Houston, and Austin continue to view Colorado Springs as a climate and lifestyle haven. Agents should continue to cultivate referral networks with brokerages in these specific Texas metros.

Section 3: Neighborhood Watch – Micro-Market Analysis

The "average" market does not exist; buyers purchase in specific neighborhoods. In 2026, the performance of these sub-markets will diverge significantly based on the economic factors discussed above.

3.1 The "Risk" Sector: Northgate & Briargate

These northern sub-markets, traditionally the crown jewels of the Colorado Springs market due to their location within Academy District 20 (D20), face the most exposure in 2026.

Space Command Exposure: These neighborhoods are the preferred residential zones for the high-ranking officers and contractors associated with Space Command. The headquarters relocation will disproportionately affect demand in the $700k+ segment here.

Price Softening: We are already seeing evidence of this impact. Northgate home values have trended down by 0.9% year-over-year. This is a leading indicator.

Opportunity: For buyers, this softness represents an opportunity to enter a premium school district at a discount. Agents should look for "deal fatigue" among sellers in these areas—homes sitting for 90+ days may be ripe for aggressive offers.

3.2 The "Value" Play: Southeast Colorado Springs

Conversely, the southeast quadrant of the city is emerging as a vibrant hub of activity and value.

Gentrification & Revitalization: Driven by the Southeast Strong Community Plan, this area is seeing significant grassroots investment and revitalization. The expansion of the "New South End" of downtown is spilling over, creating a cultural and economic bridge to the southeast neighborhoods.

Affordability: This remains the last bastion of true affordability in the city. With high interest rates squeezing budgets, demand is funneling down into these lower price points, keeping transaction volume higher than in the luxury sectors.

Investment Potential: Investors are eyeing this area for renovation projects. The older housing stock is ripe for modernization, and the improving amenities (Panorama Park, new retail) are driving long-term appreciation.

3.3 The "Lifestyle" Enclaves: West Side & Foothills

The West Side (Mountain Shadows, Peregrine, Rockrimmon) remains highly desirable for its lifestyle amenities—proximity to Garden of the Gods, hiking trails, and mountain views. However, this area faces a singular, existential threat: Insurance.

Wildfire Risk: These neighborhoods are located in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). As insurance carriers tighten underwriting standards, these homes are becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to insure.

Market Friction: We anticipate a "bifurcation" in this market. Homes with mitigated properties (Firewise certified, new roofs) will sell at a premium. Homes with unmitigated risk will linger, forcing sellers to offer massive concessions to cover the buyer's increased insurance costs.

3.4 The "Growth" Frontier: Falcon & Meridian Ranch

To the east, the communities of Falcon and Meridian Ranch continue to grow, driven by their proximity to Schriever Space Force Base.

New Build Competition: This area is dominated by new construction. Builders here are offering aggressive rate buydowns (e.g., "5.5% for the first year") that resale sellers cannot match.

The "Schriever Effect": With the Space Force operations expanding at Schriever (independent of the HQ move), this corridor remains the logistical hub for the personnel who are staying. The commute from Falcon to Schriever is significantly shorter than from the north, making it the practical choice for the operational workforce.

Section 4: The Agent’s Survival Guide for 2026

The market of 2026 will not reward the passive. The "easy money" of the pandemic era is gone. We are entering a professional's market—a grinder where success requires deep technical knowledge, precise strategy, and aggressive execution.

4.1 Mastering the "Insurance Objection"

The single biggest deal-killer in 2026 will not be interest rates; it will be homeowners' insurance. Deals will die during the insurance binder phase unless agents are proactive.

The Crisis: Uninsurability

Wildfire risk modeling has become granular and punitive. A home that was insurable in 2020 may be uninsurable in 2026 due to updated satellite risk maps. Major carriers are non-renewing policies in "Red Zones," and premiums have skyrocketed. Colorado is now the sixth-costliest state for homeowners insurance.

The Mechanism: The FAIR Plan

In response to the crisis, Colorado launched the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan in 2025.

What it is: The "insurer of last resort" for high-risk homes.

The Limits: Coverage is capped at $750,000 for residential properties. Crucially, policies are typically based on Actual Cash Value (ACV), not Replacement Cost. This means in the event of a total loss, the payout reflects the depreciated value of the home, potentially leaving the homeowner with insufficient funds to rebuild.

Eligibility: To qualify, a homeowner must demonstrate three declinations from standard insurance carriers.

Tactical Advice for Agents:

Pre-Listing Mitigation: You cannot list a home in the foothills without a strategy. Advise sellers to obtain a Wildfire Mitigation Certificate before listing. This certification can sometimes be the difference between eligibility for a standard carrier (like USAA or State Farm) versus being forced onto the expensive FAIR Plan.

The "CLUE" Report: Pull the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report immediately upon taking a listing. Look for prior hail claims. If a roof has a history of claims but hasn't been replaced, it will trigger a non-renewal for the new buyer.

The Buyer Conversation: Include an "Insurance Contingency" in every offer. Do not rely on the standard "Loan Objection" deadline; insurance underwriting can happen at the very end. Ensure the property is insurable before your buyer pays for an appraisal. Frame the FAIR Plan as a solution that enables the purchase, but calculate the higher premium into the buyer's Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio immediately to avoid loan denial.

4.2 Pricing in a "Flat" Market

With prices predicted to be flat or slightly down (-0.2% to -0.4% in some forecasts) through late 2026 , "testing the market" with a high price is a death sentence.

The "57-Day" Rule: Prepare sellers for a 2-month timeline. If they need to sell faster, they must price ahead of the market.

The "Gap" Strategy: Data shows a gap between "Average List Price" and "Average Sold Price." In late 2025, buyers were closing at roughly 5.7% below list price.

Tactical Move: Advise sellers to price 5% below the "comps" of early 2025 to generate immediate interest. It is better to price correctly and sell in 14 days than to chase the market down with price cuts for 90 days.

4.3 Negotiation Tactics: The Power Shift

Negotiation in 2026 is about leverage.

Concessions vs. Price Cuts: In a high-rate environment, a price cut often helps a buyer less than a concession. A $10,000 price reduction saves the buyer ~$60/month. A $10,000 concession used for a 2-1 Buydown can save the buyer ~$400/month in the first year. Structure your deals to solve the buyer's payment problem, not just the price problem.

The "Stale" Leverage: Identify listings that have been on the market for 60+ days. These sellers are often fatigued and paying carrying costs. They are prime candidates for aggressive offers that include requests for inspection repairs and rate buydowns.

Section 5: The Marketing Imperative – Why Video is Non-Negotiable (Introducing VidFlipper)

In a market with 3,555 active listings, static photography is the sound of silence. The "attention economy" dictates that if you do not capture the buyer's eye in the first three seconds of their scroll, the listing effectively does not exist.

5.1 The Brutal Math of Attention

The data for 2025 is unequivocal. Video is not merely "content"; it is the currency of the modern real estate transaction.

Inquiry Volume: Listings with video receive 403% more inquiries than those without. This is a staggering statistic: a listing with video generates four times the leads of a static listing.

Speed of Sale: Homes with video tours sell up to 31% faster. In a market where days on market are creeping up to 60 days, video acts as an accelerator pedal.

Search Visibility: Listings with video receive 157% more organic traffic from search engines. The algorithms of Zillow, Realtor.com, and Google prioritize video content.

The Agent Gap: Despite these compelling statistics, only 9% of agents create listing videos. This represents the single largest arbitrage opportunity in the Colorado Springs market. By simply doing what 91% of your competitors refuse to do, you instantly differentiate your value proposition.

5.2 The "Mobile-First" Consumer

The buyer of 2026 is a "Digital Native."

Mobile Usage: 75% of users watch short-form video on their mobile devices.

Platform Dominance: The platforms driving culture and attention—Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts—are exclusively video-centric. They penalize static images. If you are not creating video, you are invisible on the platforms where buyers spend their time.

The Virtual Tour Necessity: With out-of-state buyers (military/tech) still constituting a large portion of the Springs market, a video that simulates a walkthrough is often the deciding factor in securing a "sight-unseen" offer.

5.3 The VidFlipper Protocol: A Tactical Arsenal for a Saturated Market

The primary barrier to video adoption is the perceived cost and complexity. In the high-friction, high-inventory market of Colorado Springs, this hesitation is a critical error. The solution is automation. VidFlipper is a specialized tool engineered to solve this problem, using a robust Next.js application, AI-powered scripting, and programmatic rendering to transform static photos into compelling vertical videos in minutes.

For the 2026 agent, VidFlipper is not just a marketing tool; it is a direct solution to the market’s most acute pain points.

Executing the Colorado Springs Survival Guide with VidFlipper:

1. Master the Insurance Objection with Video: The wildfire insurance crisis is the number one deal-killer. Static photos cannot communicate insurability. Video can.

   • The "Insurable Home" Showcase: For a listing on the West Side, in the Wildland-Urban Interface, use VidFlipper to create a "Peace of Mind" video. The visuals show the home and its defensible space. The AI-generated voiceover clearly states: "This home is not only beautiful; it's secure. It comes with a full Wildfire Mitigation Certificate and a pre-negotiated insurance binder, saving you from the FAIR plan and guaranteeing a smooth closing." This turns the market's biggest fear into your listing's strongest asset.

2. Combat "Stale Listing" Stigma in a High-Inventory Market: With 3,555 active listings and a 57-day average DOM, every property is at risk of becoming stale. VidFlipper is the tool for perpetual marketing freshness.

   • The "Re-Launch" Campaign: Take a 60-day-old listing in Northgate that's suffering from the Space Command slowdown. Use VidFlipper to create three new, distinct 30-second videos: one announcing a "Strategic Price Improvement," another highlighting the "Top-Rated D20 Schools," and a third focusing on the "Unobstructed Pikes Peak View." Posting this fresh content re-activates algorithmic visibility and re-engages buyers who previously scrolled past. Use the snow overlay in a December video to subconsciously signal to buyers that the listing is active now, not a relic from summer.

3. Hyper-Target the New Buyer Demographics: The economic whiplash—losing military execs but gaining tech engineers—requires precise marketing.

   • The "Silicon Mountain" Pitch: For a home near the Garden of the Gods tech corridor, create a VidFlipper video targeting the incoming Entegris workforce. Use dynamic captions to highlight "15-Min Commute to Campus" and "Weekend Access to Mountain Biking Trails." This speaks directly to the lifestyle priorities of a tech worker.
   • The "Schriever Commuter" Angle: For a home in Falcon, the video's AI voiceover should focus on the practical benefits for the remaining Space Force personnel: "Cut your commute in half. This Falcon home offers a 20-minute drive to Schriever Space Force Base, giving you more time at home."

By integrating these tactical video strategies, an agent moves from being a passive participant in a saturated market to an active, strategic force. VidFlipper provides the means to control the narrative, address hidden objections, and surgically target the right buyers, ensuring dominance in the challenging but opportunity-rich landscape of 2026.

Conclusion: The Marching Orders for 2026

The Colorado Springs real estate market of 2026 will be unforgiving to the unprepared. The convergence of high inventory, insurance volatility, and economic shifts has raised the bar for professional competency.

Your Strategic Imperatives:

Become an Insurance Expert: Do not let a deal die because you were blindsided by a non-renewal or the FAIR Plan. Know the regulations, pull the CLUE reports, and guide your clients through the minefield.

Watch the Macro: Keep a close eye on interest rates. If they drop below 6%, be ready to activate your database of "wait-and-see" buyers immediately.

Diversify Your Niche: Pivot your networking toward the growing tech and manufacturing sectors (Entegris, Project Rey) to hedge against the softening in the military officer demographic.

Embrace Video: Implement VidFlipper (or equivalent AI tools) immediately. Being in the 9% of agents who use video is the fastest, most effective way to gain market share in the 2026 landscape.

The market is softening, yes. But for the strategic, video-forward, data-driven agent, a soft market is simply a market with fewer competitors.

Go hunt.